New Austin Fashion Awards categories and voting process for 2012:

1. Beginning JUNE 4, nomination forms will be made available to the general public via FashionWeekAustin.com. Users may NOMINATE deserving candidates for TRAILBLAZER or RISING STAR awards.

2. On JUNE 22, nominations will close.

3. All nominees will be presented to the 13-member Board for Austin Fashion Week. This Board consists of the following members:

• Stephen Moser: Austin Chronicle Style Writer
• Eve Nicols: Director of Apparel Design, University of Texas
• Linda Asaf: Fashion Designer
• Kendra Scott: Fashion Designer
• Lance Avery Morgan: Brilliant Magazine, The Society Diaries
• Elizabeth Gibson: Owner, Eliza Page
• Allen Ruiz: Owner, Jackson Ruiz Salon
• Justin Brown: Owner, Wilhelmina Brown Modeling Agency
• Chad Harlan: Photographer
• Lisa Brooks: Hair Stylist & Owner, Diaz & Brooks
• Rochelle Rae: Owner, Rae Cosmetics
• Anne Marie Beard: Fashion Designer
• Sandra Antoun: Stylist

The Board will be tasked with selecting FIVE Trailblazers and FIVE Rising Stars.

Trailblazers are those within our fashion community that have created the opportunities in Austin for those in the industry today. They are a group of visionary individuals who have shown leadership, dreamt big executed to their fullest potential.

Rising Stars are those who, while they may be in an earlier stage of their fashion career, exhibit promise and potential. They are people that should be honored for their current successes and forthcoming trajectory.

WINNERS OF AWARDS IN BOTH CATEGORIES WILL ONLY BE HONORED ONCE AND WILL NO LONGER BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE SAME AWARD IN FUTURE YEARS.

Nominees and finalists will not be announced. Winners will be announced at the Austin Fashion Awards, August 18.

4. On AUGUST 1, Mash Up Team images will be posted to FashionWeekAustin.com. The general public will be allowed to vote for a “People’s Choice” award for the best image. That award will be presented at the Austin Fashion Awards. In addition, renowned photographer Timothy White will select his favorite image and present the Timothy White Award for the best Mash Up Team image at the Austin Fashion Awards.

Public voting for the Mash Up Teams will close at 6:00 pm on August 15. Nominees will be announced on August 16 and the People’s Choice winner will be announced at the Austin Fashion Awards.